NBA Fantasy

Biography

Background

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: First-round draft choice (28th overall) by San Antonio in 2003; June 26, 2003: Draft rights traded by San Antonio to Phoenix for a future first-round pick; July 14, 2010: Traded by Phoenix with forward-centre Dwayne Jones to Toronto for forward Hedo Turkoglu.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Voted 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year … One of the NBA’s best reserves, over the last five seasons has averaged 14.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 27.4 minutes, including 47.0 percent shooting and 40.2 percent from three-point range, in 333 games (57 starts) … Has averaged 12.6 points, 2.6 assists and 25.1 minutes in 466 regular season games in his seven-year NBA career … Owns postseason averages of 10.2 points, 2.0 assists and 23.3 minutes in 64 appearances … Played in Brazil from 1999-2003 ... In his second season with Baura Tilibra in 2002-03, averaged 28.2 points, second to the legendary Oscar Schmidt; among the league leaders averaging 7.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds ... Named Brazilian League Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.8 points, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals in his first full season for Baura Tilibra in 2001-02 ... Was the youngest player (19) to earn a roster spot on the Brazilian National Team that competed at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis ... Began his professional career in 1999-00 playing for Palmieras in the second division ...

2009-10 SEASON: Averaged 9.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.9 minutes … Saw action in a career-low 44 games… Averaged 13.8 points in five starts … Scored in double figures 18 times, including two 20-point efforts … Suns scored 100 or more points in 40 of his 44 games, averaging 113.1 points with him and 106.9 points without … Became just the third Sun in franchise history Mar. 28 to reach 700 three-pointers made in a Phoenix uniform (Nash, Majerle) … Underwent surgery Jan. 26 to remove a cyst in his right wrist and missed 23 games … Missed the first 12 games of December with a sprained left ankle after landing on a defender’s foot while attempting a three-pointer Nov. 29 at Toronto … Started the first two games of the season in place of Jason Richardson and averaged 20.5 points, including a season-high 24-point effort Oct. 30 vs. Golden State.

2008-09 SEASON: In his sixth season with the Suns, averaged 14.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 48% FG, 38% 3FG and 24.4 mpg in 70 games... In addition to collecting a career-best 41 points (his first-ever 40-point effort) vs. Oklahoma City on Feb. 20, 2009, joined Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving and Walt Frazier as the only players in NBA history to record at least 40 points, seven boards, seven assists and six steals... In his last 34 games of the year, averaged 16.4 ppg on 51-percent shooting, including 12 20-point efforts during that stretch... Made 66-of-154 (43%) three-point attempts in his last 45 games... When he played 20 or more minutes (50 games), averaged 17 ppg vs. 7.2 ppg when seeing less than 20 minutes a night... Posting a career-high six steals in both games vs. Oklahoma City (12/29/08, 2/20/09), also tallied a career-high 13-straight games with a steal... Ranked 10th in the NBA from the charity stripe (88%), also made a personal-best 33-straight free throws... Leading the team in scoring 13 times, had 47 double-digit scoring efforts in 70 games played, including 19 20-point efforts, two 30-point games and one 40-point night.

2007-08 SEASON: Averaged 15.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 46% FG, 39% 3FG and 29.5 mpg in 82 games for the Suns... One of only two Suns to appear in every game (Diaw), scored more total points off the bench than any player in the NBA... Had four 30-point efforts and 22 20-point games... Ranked 12th in the NBA in 3FGM with 164 makes (3rd-team) and averaged two three-pointers per game (16th in the NBA)... In 12 starts (10-2), averaged 21.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 54% FG and 48.7% 3FG... In the NBA Playoffs, totaled 40 points in the final three games after scoring 12 combined in the first two games of the Opening Round. Averaged 10.4 ppg, four boards and 1.8 apg in five postseason games.

2006-07 SEASON: Named 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year on April 23 to become the fourth player in franchise history to earn the honor, joining Eddie Johnson (1988-89), Danny Manning (1997-98) and Rodney Rogers (1999-00)… Posted career highs in scoring (18.0), assists (4.0), rebounds (2.7), steals (1.20) and minutes played (32.7) in 80 games (18 starts)… Ranked fifth in the NBA with a career-high 190 three-point field goal made (prev. 87, 2005-06) and for the second consecutive season ranked in among the league’s top 10 in three-point field goal percentage (.434, T-7th)… Scored 10-plus points 73 times (53-20 record), 20-plus points career-high 33 times (25-8 record), 30-plus points 4 times (2-2 record)… Had scored 20 or more points just 13 times and never more than 28 points in first three NBA seasons… Recorded first five career double-doubles… Established career highs of 32 points and seven three-point field goals made vs. Charlotte on March 7… Matched his personal best in scoring five days later with 32 points vs. Houston on March 12... In the 2007 Playoffs, scored 10-plus points nine times, 20-plus points three times… Scored a playoff career-high 26 points in three consecutive playoff games vs. the L.A. Lakers (Game 1 and 2 on April 22 and 24, 2007 and Game 7 May 6, 2006)… Averaged 21.2 points in five first round games vs. the L.A. Lakers, including 16-of-42 (.381) shooting from behind the arc.

2005-06 SEASON: Enjoyed a breakout season in only his third NBA campaign, posting career highs in points per game (13.1), rebounds (2.6), assists (2.8), field goal percentage (.481), three-point field goal percentage (team-high .444, 3rd), three-pointers made (87) and minutes played (27.9) in 57 games (11 starts)... Scored 10-plus points 41 times, 20-plus points nine times, including a career-high 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting at Toronto on March 31 (prev. 27, Jan. 5, 2004 at Chicago)... In the playoffs, scored in double figures 14 times, 20-plus points four times, including a playoff career-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting (.833) in first-round series clinching victory in Game 7 vs. Lakers on May 6… The 26 points were the most points scored by a Suns reserve in a playoff game since Wesley Person had 29 points on April 29, 1997 vs. Seattle in the first round… Scored all of the team’s 25 bench points in Game 6 of the conference semifinals at Clippers on May 18, including a stretch where he scored 11 points in the final 1:35 of the first quarter… For the second time in the 2006 NBA Playoffs, led the Suns in scoring with a game-high 24 points (10-of-13 shooting) in Game 4 of the conference finals vs. Dallas on May 30… In first NBA playoff start showed no jitters scoring a then playoff career-high 22 points in 47 minutes in place of a suspended Raja Bell in Game 6 at Lakers on May 4… In first 2006 playoff game, responded with 15 points in Game 1 First Round series vs. L.A. Lakers after entering the 2006 NBA postseason with a career high of seven points, set vs. Dallas on May 9, 2005.

2004-05 SEASON: In his second NBA season, averaged 7.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, .475 field goal percentage, .367 3-point field goal percentage in 17.3 minutes in 63 games (six starts)… Scored in double figures 17 times, 20-plus points once… Scored season-high 22 points vs. L.A. Clippers on Feb. 23 in one of his six starts, his most points scored since tallying 27 in his first career start on Jan. 5, 2004 at Chicago as a rookie… Averaged 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals in his six starts in place of an injured Steve Nash… Numbers increased after the All-Star break, averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, .500 FG over final 28 games… In first start of the season at Washington on Jan. 15, responded with 15 points, including a career-high five three-point field goals made and nine three-point field goals attempted… Scored 19 points off the bench vs. Orlando on Dec. 13 with Nash limited due to foul trouble… Dished out season-high seven assists to go along with his 14 points and five rebounds vs. L.A. Lakers on April 5… Hauled in season-high six boards vs. Houston on March 11 and vs. L.A. Clippers on Feb. 23… Missed 14 games due to injury, including a nine-game stint (Jan. 19-Feb. 2) on the injured list with a sprained left ankle when he stepped on Nash’s foot in practice… Also missed three games (Jan. 2-5) due to chicken pox and did not dress for two games (Nov. 10, Nov. 16) after suffering a sprained right ankle at Cleveland on Nov. 10.

2003-04 SEASON: In first NBA season averaged 7.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 21.2 minutes in 70 games... Wasn't expected to see a lot of action in rookie season, but that all changed when Phoenix traded Stephon Marbury to New York on Jan. 5... Inherited the starting point guard job, a position usually held by a veteran, and averaged 10.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 28.0 minutes after Jan. 5... Started all but two games after Jan. 5 (did not dress at San Antonio on March 27 due to flu and came off the bench vs. Utah on March 12 due to sprained right thumb)... Ranked in the top 10 among NBA rookies in scoring (7.9, 9th), assists (2.4, T-8th), field goal percentage (.448, 6th), three-point field goal percentage (.395, 1st), three-point field goals made (83, 2nd) and steals (1.33, T-3rd)... His game, along with his English, improved as the season progressed and he averaged 13.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 steals in 33.4 minutes in final eight games... Scored in double figures in 23 games, including a personal-best seven consecutive contests (March 29-April 13)... In first NBA start, broke loose for a career-high 27 points (11-18 FG, 2-6 3FG, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one turnover in 39 minutes... It was also the most points scored ever by a Suns rookie in their first start (prev. 22 by Negele Knight, April 5, 1991)... It was the most points scored by an international player in their first start since 2001-02 NBA Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol scored 27 points vs. Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2001... Set Suns rookie record with a three-pointer in 10 consecutive games from Jan. 2-19 (8 prev. Dan Majerle, Nov. 26-Dec. 16, 1988 and Wesley Person, Dec. 23, 1994-Jan. 9, 1995)... Recorded season-high five steals at Houston on March 15, the most thefts by a Suns rookie since Michael Finley had five vs. the Clippers on Jan. 9, 1996... Forty-six percent of his field goal attempts were from three-point range (210-470 FG, 84-214 3FG)... Missed three games (Nov. 5-10) after returning to Brazil to visit his terminally ill father... Made regular season debut with four points on 2-of-3 shooting from the field in five minutes vs. Hawks on Nov. 12.